Put ladder safety at top of holiday list

December 09, 2006|MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal

With all the cleaning, decorating and other holiday preparations ahead, chances are good you'll be up on a ladder in coming weeks. Stay safe in your climb with these tips from the Home Safety Council: Keep a firm grasp on the ladder rail. If possible, skip the gloves, or wear a thin pair that allows you to keep a good grip. Don't wear mittens, which are too bulky. Keep the ladder level. Make sure it's set up on even ground. Don't overreach. Your belt buckle should never pass the ladder rail. Work in a well-lighted area, and don't decorate after dark. Never stand on the top two steps. Use a fiberglass ladder when working with electricity. Even wood ladders will conduct electricity when they're wet. Don't drink and decorate. Getting up on a ladder is not a good idea when you've imbibed in some Christmas cheer. Composting leavesQ: What kinds of leaves are best for composting? -- L.S., Akron, Ohio A: Just about all leaves can be composted, but some break down faster than others. The closer the leaves' carbon-to- nitrogen ratio is to the optimum of 30:1, the faster they'll decompose, according to information on Cornell Composting, a Web site developed by Cornell University. Maple leaves are close to that 30:1 ratio. Oak leaves, on the other hand, have a ratio of about 60:1 and also contain tannins that are resistant to decay, so they break down slowly. Green leaves decompose faster than fall leaves, said Fred Michel, an associate professor in the department of food, agricultural and biological engineering at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Pine needles are a poor composting choice, he said, because they're extremely slow to decompose. Shredding the leaves will help them decompose. And go easy on the black walnut leaves, public radio's Mike McGrath advises in his new "Mike McGrath's Book of Compost." They contain a substance called juglone that inhibits the growth of some plants. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be a problem if black walnut leaves aren't a major component of your mulch, he writes.